Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the value of VAT relief given under the Listed Places of Worship Scheme in each of the past two financial years.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) was established in 2001 to provide grants towards VAT paid on repairs and maintenance to the nation's listed churches and cathedrals. The scheme, which presently handles around 7000 claims per annum, applies to all faiths and denominations and is delivered UK wide. It is currently funded through a combination of £17 million from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s core baseline, together with £25 million available from HMT reserves (so a total of up to £42m total each financial year).
Historically, the scheme has operated with an underspend each year. However, efforts are underway to reduce underspend, including via a new LPWGS website and comms outreach campaign. Initial data since the launch of the website in July 2023 suggests a gradual increase in uptake and grants being made.
The LPWGS website provides details of the annual spend of the scheme, but does not provide details of previous years’ allocations. See here: https://listed-places-of-worship-grant.dcms.gov.uk/about-us/.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to amend the present ability to reclaim VAT under the Listed Places of Worship Scheme.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Listed places of worship represent some of the nation's finest heritage, and HM Government recognises the need to preserve and maintain such hallowed buildings. The Listed Place of Worship Grant Scheme aims to mitigate the cost of doing so and to support listed and protected buildings for the benefit of present and future generations.
There are presently no plans to amend the eligibility criteria for the scheme, but we keep them under review. We have also been working to ensure that the accessibility and uptake of the scheme is improved, particularly through the development of a new website and application process. Officials maintain regular contact with key people and organisations representing listed places of worship, and continue to welcome feedback on the operation and effectiveness of the scheme. I was pleased to visit St Peter and St Paul's church in Albury, Surrey, earlier this year to hear how the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme helped them to carry out repairs to the church roof.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to launch their technical consultation on the Community Health Fund; and how long this consultation will be open for submissions.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
His Majesty’s Government has recently announced that community wealth funds will become the fourth cause for dormant assets funding in England.
A community wealth fund will provide funding sources to local communities, with spending decisions made by local residents about how to improve their communities. The Government will soon launch a technical consultation on the design of this important new initiative and welcomes views on how best to ensure its long-term impact; the consultation will be open for 12 weeks.
Secondary legislation to enable dormant assets funding to be directed to community wealth funds will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to respond to the letter sent by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 8 December 2020 about making public funds available to the Royal Albert Hall.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
A response was sent on 25th February 2021. I apologise for the delay.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to respond to the letter sent by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 31 July about making public funds available to the Royal Albert Hall; and when they plan to respond to the follow-up letters sent on 19 August, 9 September and 1 October.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
A response was sent to the Noble Lord on 26th October.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to introduce the pending Law Commission Bill on charity regulation.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Law Commission’s report, Technical Issues in Charity Law makes a number of recommendations for simplifying charity law.
The department is giving the report’s recommendations full consideration and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of whether the Charity Commission can use the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to refuse to disclose to a complainant the regulatory advice given to a charity under section 15 of the Charities Act 2011, following investigation of that complaint.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
As with all public authorities, the Charity Commission works in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and releases requested information unless there is good reason not to.
The Charity Commission responds to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on a case-by-case basis. It can refuse to disclose information if, for example, under Section 31 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, it would be prejudicial to the Charity Commission’s functions and not in the public interest to disclose.
An internal review procedure is available in cases where the Charity Commission has refused to disclose information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If the individual requesting the information remains dissatisfied with the Charity Commission’s final decision they can make a complaint to the Information Commissioner.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Charity Commission is required to make public the advice and guidance it gives to charities where it has determined that the charity has been in breach of (1) charitable, and (2) Charity Commission guidance.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Charity Commission has published policies setting out when it will publish an inquiry or operational case report. The Charity Commission has discretion about what to include in these reports. It is not practical to publish details each time the Charity Commission opens compliance cases, statutory inquiries or uses its powers, including issuing advice or guidance.
The Charity Commission reports on its work broadly and on a thematic basis, including an annual report on its work dealing with wrongdoing and harm. These reports explain the commission’s approach to investigations and compliance case work. They give details of the volume and nature of cases dealt with in a given year and include case study examples.
All of the Charity Commission’s general advice for trustees, to give them the tools and understanding they need to succeed, is published and available on gov.uk.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to introduce the Law Commission Bill on Charity Regulation.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Law Commission expects to publish its report on technical issues in charity law, together with a draft bill, this summer. The Government will need to consider the report and its recommendations carefully.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Information Commissioner is required to consult relevant stakeholders prior to issuing guidance; and whether there are any plans to review the way in which consultations on proposed guidance from the Information Commissioner's Office are conducted.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Under s51(3) of the Data Protection Act 1998 the Information Commissioner is required to consult 'with trade associations, data subjects or persons representing data subjects as appears to him to be appropriate' before preparing and publishing Codes of Practice or guidance.
The Information Commissioner regularly consults on new guidance and codes of practice – for example the recent Privacy Notices code of practice. Details of ICO consultations can be found on the ICO website www.ico.org.uk. The Information Commissioner will review the way in which the ICO consults and prepares guidance as part of its preparations to implement the EU General Data Protection Regulation. A consultation will also be held in relation to the statutory Code of Practice on direct marketing when the provisions in the Digital Economy Bill become law.